On Thursday, April 3, the Auburn chapter of Turning Point USA hosted actress and conservative figure Leigh-Allyn Baker. Famous for her acting role in the Disney Channel original show Good Luck Charlie and recent conservative activism, Baker spoke about navigating Hollywood, standing up against cancel culture and advocating for bodily autonomy against vaccinations to hundreds of attendees.
Baker was hosted by the Turning Point USA chapter at Auburn University, a non-partisan student organization but is known for promoting conservative ideals. Founded by famous conservative activist Charlie Kirk, the national organization and its chapter at Auburn University hope to acquaint college students with conservative topics, including free market capitalism, free speech and limited government.
The event did not deviate from the organization’s mission, as Baker spoke about vaccinations, free speech, motherhood, spirituality and Hollywood. Since 2021, Baker has advocated for conservative ideals after her speech protesting a mask mandate at a Williamson County, Tennessee school board meeting went viral.
“Turning Point USA is proud to host speakers like Baker, who can share their experiences and encourage open discussions on free speech and ideological diversity,” said Jacob Roose, president of TPUSA at Auburn University. “Regardless of political stance, this event highlights the importance of hearing multiple perspectives and fostering meaningful conversations on campus.”
Ahead of the event, TPUSA members advertised Baker’s appearance through tabling on Haley Concourse and flyers posted across campus. Admission was free to all interested individuals.
Baker is not the first conservative speaker sponsored by Turning Point USA, as Dr. Ben Carson, a presidential nominee in the 2016 Republican primaries, spoke on campus in November 2023.
At 7:00 p.m. in Lowder Hall, Baker opened her speech with a “War Eagle” and the topic of cancel culture, which she described as “one of the nastiest fallacies to ever pervade our society.”
Discussing her personal experiences, Baker explained she had been canceled for commenting on President Joe Biden’s Twitter account, speaking at a school board meeting and speaking against Big Pharma.
However, Baker reassured the audience that the hate she received, including death threats, did not stop her from sharing her ideals and advised students to stand up for their beliefs, despite possible backlash.
“You can’t cancel people,” Baker said regarding cancel culture. “[...] The real purpose of cancel culture is to put so much pressure on you that you shut up and quietly go away.”
To advocate for free speech, Baker wrote her first children’s book One Small Voice, in which a princess courageously speaks up to save her kingdom when others are overtaken by fear.
Baker mentioned that she was asked what made her change so radically to stand up to Hollywood during an interview for its book release, but Baker realized Hollywood had changed, not her.
“I was perfectly willing and able to go to work, smile at people, show my face, breathe air and live my life. They wanted me to shut my mouth, muzzle my thoughts, mask my face. [...] They wanted me to comply with all of their tyrannical demands or else,” Baker said. “I did not radically change. They did.”
Baker called the current political sphere “straight out of the Marxist playbook,” discussing the division sewn by the “global elite” who “want one world global economy and government” they oversee.
“[The global elite] need you to feel the pressure to conform. Do not fall for it,” Baker said. “Pressure can either burst a pipe or can make a diamond, but you get to decide which it’s gonna be.”
Baker warned attendees that standing up against cancel culture is difficult.
“It’s hard. I have paid a price. To stand up for what you know to be true is hard, but I want you to hope, because there are always three things that come out: the sun, the moon and the truth,” Baker said.
However, her call to action is accompanied with hope. Quoting the Bible throughout her speech, Baker explained she finds peace in God.
“God has set me on a new path. It’s not one I ever anticipated. It’s not one I ever would have gone to for, but he uses all bad for good and so, I am grateful for all the haters,” Baker said. “I’m so grateful for the entire experience.”
After the speech, TPUSA opened the floor for questions.
“And everyone is welcome, differing opinions as well,” Baker said, as students lined up to ask questions. “I am out there fighting for free speech, not just for me but for everyone.”
Question topics included vaccinations, abortion, relationships with her former Good Luck Charlie co-stars and homeschooling. Many students hugged and took photos with Baker to capture the moment.
One student asked where Baker she drew the line on vaccine mandates because he believed certain vaccines, including the polio vaccine, are and should be mandated. Baker believed vaccine mandates were unconstitutional and infringed upon citizens’ bodily autonomy.
“The issue is you oppose some vaccines, and you want some, and that is your right and your freedom,” Baker said.
The student continued by saying the polio vaccine could affect others, but Baker stated that was false.
“The definition of a vaccine is that you will not be able to transmit it and you will not be able to get it yourself,” Baker said. “It will not be an acquired disease at that point, because your body has fought that.”
On its official website page about measles cases and outbreaks, which is updated weekly on Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said vaccines can prevent diseases like polio and measles. However, although uncommon, even fully vaccinated parties can contract diseases through outbreaks. As of the last update on March 28, 2025, 5 measles outbreaks have been reported, with 93% of the 483 confirmed measles cases associated with said outbreaks.
Baker received a vulgar note from a student but thanked attendees and reassured them she was there for the dialogue.
“I’m here to have a conversation, and sometimes I have conversations and sometimes we’re just gonna have to agree to disagree,” Baker said.
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